The courage to risk something new: A mindful river walk

By Shannon McAdam, Canada West Mission Centre Co-President

On a cold and very rainy Sunday morning in March, I walked from my home to Lions Park in Port Coquitlam to lead a mindful walk along the Coquitlam River. I arrived very wet and wondering if anyone would join me as I waited under the picnic shelter.

I was delighted that two people from Meetup—one who had never been to a Creating Connection event before, and another who had—chose to brave the rain and join me! I had never met either of them before.

We shared in a moment of quiet meditation and then read aloud together a poem by Joy Harjo called “Praise the Rain.” We then took a mindful walk in the rain along the river, sharing what we noticed in nature and engaging in meaningful conversation.

For me, it was a day of living the Mission Prayer:
God, where will your Spirit lead today? Help me be fully awake and ready to respond. Grant me courage to risk something new and become a blessing of your love and peace. Amen.

I had never hosted a meetup like this by myself—only ever with others from Community of Christ. No one from Community of Christ was able to attend, so I was a bit apprehensive. The incessant rain could have been an easy excuse to cancel. But I mustered the courage to risk doing something new, and I am so glad that I did! The participants were grateful for an opportunity to have meaningful connection, and so was I.

One of the things we talked about on our walk is how our culture often isolates people instead of bringing people together. We talked about how simple acts of kindness and connection are actually counter-cultural and are so important in our world today. We all risked something new by venturing out in the rain to connect with others, and I was reminded again of how the Spirit works to bring people together when we are open to its leadings. All three of us were seeking community and connection and were able to find it together in nature.

If you’ve ever thought about what it might be like to invite others into community, I’d encourage you to think of something that brings you joy—and then think about how it could be shared with others. I love walking along the river by my home, and I love poetry, so this was something easy for me to share with others. Having it posted on Meetup was an easy way for people looking for connection to find the event. Creating meaningful connection doesn’t have to be complicated—it just takes a little courage to show up.

Where will God’s Spirit lead you today? How will you courageously respond?